Curling Canada announces qualification process for 2022 Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials

The road to the 2022 Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials is set and was announced today by Curling Canada. 

In addition to the six mixed doubles team already qualified, 10 more curling teams will earn a shot at representing Canada in mixed doubles at the Olympics by qualifying for the 2022 Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Trials, which runs from Dec. 28, 2021-Jan. 2, 2022 at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie, Man. 

Up to four mixed doubles teams will receive direct-entry berths during three events played throughout the 2021-22 curling season.

One team will receive a berth at the Aly Jenkins Mixed Doubles Memorial bonspiel in Martensville, Sask., from Sept. 15-19. The highest non-qualified top-four finisher will receive the spot.

All eyes will be on the Qualico Mixed Doubles Classic in Banff, Alta., a few weeks later. Once again, the highest non-qualified team finishing in the top four will receive the second trials berth available this season from Sept. 30-Oct. 3.

Brantford, Ont., plays host to the last-chance qualifier mixed doubles event from Dec. 9-12. The Brantford Mixed Doubles Classic serves as the season’s final event that will have direct entry spots available into the Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials. The two highest non-qualified top-four finishing teams will punch their tickets to Portage la Prairie.

Based on Canadian Mixed Doubles Rankings (CMDR) standings, the final six berths will be awarded on Dec. 14. The CMDR points system will resume on Aug. 12 following its suspension during the 2020-21 season. A team’s CMDR consists of each athlete’s best seven events from March 15, 2019, to Dec. 14, 2021. Up to three Candian Team Rankings System (CTRS) events – the system used to rank four-player curling teams in Canada – can be used to determine a mixed doubles team’s CMDR.

The four highest-ranked non-qualified teams on the CMDR will earn berths into the Trials, while two will be awarded to the highest-ranked teams on the CMDR, excluding CTRS.

Any remaining berths not awarded during the qualifying events due to top-four finishers already qualifying or declined berths will be awarded to the next highest-ranked team on the CMDR, including CTRS.

For a detailed look at the qualification process for the Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials, click here.

“This updated qualification process honours what mixed doubles teams achieved before the pandemic while also allowing opportunities for newly-created teams chances to qualify. It also provides a path to the trials for mixed doubles specialist teams that solely focus on the discipline,” said Scott Pfeifer, Curling Canada’s national mixed doubles program coach. “Like everything in the past year and a half, we’ve needed to adjust. I’m confident this process provides as many opportunities for teams of all backgrounds and experience to qualify for the limited number of spots available at the trials.”

Sixteen teams will compete at the 2022 Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials in two pools of eight. Teams already qualified for the mixed doubles trials are:

• Jocelyn Peterman/Brett Gallant (CMDR as of May 20, 2020)
• Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing (CMDR as of May 20, 2020)
• Nancy Martin/Tyrel Griffith (CMDR as of May 20, 2020)
• Rachel Homan/John Morris (CMDR as of May 20, 2020)
• Kerri Einarson/Brad Gushue (2021 Home Hardware Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship winners)
• Kadriana Sahaidak/Colton Lott (2021 Home Hardware Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship – second place)

It will be the second time Portage la Prairie hosts the Canadian mixed doubles trials event. In 2018, Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris emerged victorious at Stride Place and went on to win gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.